...The Science of Psychology Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Learning Objective Menu • • • • • • • • • • • • • • LO 1.1 LO 1.2 LO 1.3 LO 1.4 LO 1.5 LO 1.6 LO 1.7 LO 1.8 LO 1.9 LO 1.10 LO 1.11 LO 1.12 LO 1.13 LO 1.14 Definition and goals of psychology Structuralism and functionalism Early Gestalt, psychoanalysis, and behaviorism Modern perspectives Skinner, Maslow and Rogers Psychiatrist, psychologist, and other professionals Psychology is a science; steps in scientific method Naturalistic and laboratory settings Case studies and surveys Correlational technique Experimental approach and terms Placebo and the experimenter effects Conducting a real experiment Ethical concerns in conducting research Principles of critical thinking LO 1.1 Definition and goals of psychology What is Psychology? • Psychology - scientific study of behavior and mental processes. • Behavior - outward or overt actions and reactions. • Mental processes - internal, covert activity of our minds. • Psychology is a science • Prevent possible biases from leading to faulty observations • Precise and careful measurement Menu LO 1.1 Definition and goals of psychology Psychology’s Four Goals 1. Description • • • What is happening? Why is it happening? Theory - general explanation of a set of observations or facts Will it happen again? How can it be changed? 2. Explanation 3. Prediction • • 4. Control Menu LO 1.2 Structuralism and functionalism Structuralism • Structuralism - focused...
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...Scope of Psychology - Natural Science or Social Science Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Sociology, and Psychology, are amongst the most important sciences on planet Earth. Based on their field of study these branches of science are broadly categorised as Natural and Social sciences. At first glance one can tell that Sociology is categorised as a Social Science and subjects like Physics and Chemistry are categorised under the Physical science category of Natural Sciences, whilst Biology is categorised under the Life Science category of Natural Sciences. To keep this essay as relevant as possible I shall only be focussing on the Life Science division of Natural Sciences. Like Botany and Zoology, Biology studies living organisms such as plants, animals and several microorganisms. On the contrary, being a Social Science, Sociology studies the working, functioning and the behaviour of society as a whole. So what about Psychology? Is it a Social Science or a Life Science. To get a clear idea we must first define Psychology. Psychology is the study of behaviour and mind, embracing all aspects of conscious and unconscious experience as well as thought. To my utter disappointment, simply defining psychology will not resolve our dilemma, but it does give a clear idea of things. Psychology as a science is interested in what people think, what they feel and how they behave, the subject studies everything from the human brain to consciousness, memory and mental health ,whilst studying...
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...psychological sciences, I do believe that they all are valid in their own ways despite each of their critiques and problems. I enjoy working through these issues and critically evaluating each of the assumptions behind the sciences. I consider myself, and people who are also eclectic, open-minded individuals who are open to all assumptions. I even believe that all possible combinations of assumptions can be acceptably true and worth consideration. Dr. Jung: Justin, I appreciate your view but you are technically not avoiding all assumptions despite trying to be completely open-minded. The view of eclecticism is, in fact, an assumption about how assumptions should be...
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...A1) Identify the link between imprisonment and suicide [10] Imprisonment very often has negative effects on offenders, in some cases they turn into victims of abuse themselves. Prison causes psychological distress, through overcrowding and bullying. This can lead to offenders self-harming and in many cases it can lead to suicide, which is more common in prison than the general population. Deaths in prison can be given various rulings by the coroner such as suicide (the prisoner had the intention to kill themselves), death by misadventure (accidental death) which in some instances can be self-harm gone wrong, and open verdicts. Dooley et al wanted to examine the unnatural deaths that occurred in prisons in England and Wales from 1972 and 1987. This research was in the form of a content analysis of prison department personal papers of prisoners’ records. Dooley compared verdicts of suicide with verdicts of unnatural causes or death by misadventure rulings. The research found that 300 suicides occurred in the time frame, 52 of which were due to self-inflicted harm gone wrong. There was little difference between the suicide group and the group that had self-harmed. However there were some real differences. For example, it was found that the prisoners who committed suicide were more likely to do so at night (this is so there is a less likely chance of them being caught in the act) and that the self-harm gone wrong group were more likely to be found during the daytime (this...
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...What is Psychology? Psychology is considered as a boring subject or something which would definitely make one a "psycho-case"...One of my freind gave a comment,"Psychology is the science of madness and it does not contribute any positive effort towards the society!" I think she was not wrong, just because she did not know what Psychology is..Let's read this article and we all will get to know about this boring subject. Definition of PSYCHOLOGY: Science is a complete body of knowledge arranged in a systematic order. Psychology is a biological science which deals with the behaviour and minds of animals and human beings, both. It was derived from two Greek words; psyche: 'soul' and logos which means to talk. So the literal meaning of Psychology is: to talk about soul. Historical background of PSYCHOLOGY: Earlier psychology was a part of Philosophy. It was never considered to be a science. Four hundred years ago, a Greek Philosopher PLATO, studied life. In his theories, life and soul are said to be the beginning of Psychology. Morgan, a Philosopher said, "Psychology is the scientific study of activites of an individual." Boring, another Philosopher said: "Psychology is the study of human nature." Then, Robbinson said: "Psychology is the science of human and animal behaviour." According to Aristotle: "Psychology is the science of soul." Titchner, rejecting this view said: "Psychology is the science of mind." Welhelm, then said: "Psychology is the science of consciousness. "J...
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...History of Psychology Katrena Taylor PSY/310 October 11, 2011 History of Psychology Psychology at one time was just a branch of philosophy, it was 1000’s of years before it was known to be a formal discipline. It evolved from “ideas” of early philosophers into a science of its own. Centuries ago Western Philosophers began the formation of psychology as a branch of philosophy, but explored the subject in a more rationale scientific way throughout the years. Just as it took centuries for the science of psychology to implore, it was and still is, developing into the 19th century. Beginnings of Psychology Wilhelm Maximilian Wundt was a German physiologist, physician, philosopher, professor, and psychologist. He is well known as the “father of experimental psychology (Bringmann, 1975). At the University of Leipzig he founded the very first formal laboratory for psychological research in 1879. In the laboratory the exploration basically of the subconscious and conscience mind began. He studied the nature of religious beliefs and how they”conditioned” human behavior. Wundt also researched the damaged parts of the brain; he started identifying mental disorders and abnormal behaviors (Bringmann, 1975). With this research Wundt was able to separate psychology as a science from philosophy. In 1881, Wundt created the first journal for psychological research. Wundt also wrote, Principles of Physiological in 1874, which was very...
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...(2011) How Social Science Research Methods Might Provide Scientific Evidence for the Existence of God. Retrieved September 11, 2013 from Christian Higher Education The article by Benett can be misleading. The article discusses the how of using social science research for the intended research for the existence of God. The author goes into detail using the scientific method for sociologic research. Yates states “in social science research it is considered scientific to collect data about the world, to build theories to explain the data and to test those theories against further data” (p. 2). Discussing every part of the scientific method, he gives examples for how he might go about with that that part of the method. Yates also discusses different approaches to the research. Phenomenology is discussed as a method for the study and possible explanation, but is left out. Instead the author decides on methodological triangulation because it allows differing methods of data collection regarding a social issue. The reason why this would be the best method as well as its benefits in social research is discussed. Yates also states that using combined research is extremely beneficial. This article will be useful because it demonstrates using the scientific method for sociologic research. It goes in depth giving example for each part of the method. Boutellier, R., Gassmann, O., Raeder, S. (unknown) What is the difference between social and natural sciences? Swiss Federal...
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...Nissa Lewis William Carey University Contemporary Psychology 2 Abstract The definition of psychology has changed as the focus of psychology has changed. At various Times in history, psychology has been defined as the study of the psyche or the mind, of the Spirit, of consciousness, and more recently as the study of, or the science of, behavior. Perhaps, Then, we can arrive at and acceptable definition of modern psychology by observing the activities Of contemporary psychologist. These are just a few of the activities that engage contemporary psychologists. Clearly, no single definition of psychology can take into consideration the wide variety of activities engaged in by the more than 148,000 members and affiliates of the American Psychological Association, not to mention the many other psychologists around the world. Contemporary Psychology 3 Introduction to Contemporary Psychology The definition of psychology has changed as the focus of psychology has changed. At various times in history, psychology has been defined as the study of the psyche or the mind, of the spirit, of consciousness, and more recently as the study of, or the science of, behavior. Perhaps, then, we can arrive at and acceptable definition of modern psychology by observing the activities of contemporary psychologist. These are...
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...fascination with themselves and each other has led to various theories. Most important the fascination with human nature has led to the development of the science of psychology. Psychology’s answer to man’s fascination and wondering has come about through the roots in other discipline; disciplines such as philosophy, biology, and physiology. This led to a science that aims to describe and explain how human thinks, how human feel, and how human acts. Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. The science of psychology has a history that goes back to ancient past. Back to the time of Plato and Aristotle but began to flourish and take shape in the 1600’s. For one to have an appreciation for this science he or she must consider the root and various perspectives of psychology. Modern psychology has come a long way since Rene Descartes and john Locke in the 16th century. The science of psychology began to flourish in the 1600’s with philosophers Descartes and Locke contributing significant theories on human behavior, impacting the rise of modern psychology. “As a science psychology evaluates competing ideas with careful observations and vigorous analysis” (Myers, 2007. p. 2). Rene Descartes was a French philosopher and mathematician who became influential and well-known in the field of psychology. He is the father of the mind-body interaction also known as the dualism theory. According to the dualism theory the mind and body are separate entities working...
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...Services, Social Sciences, Psychology, Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, and Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Humboldt State University Natural Resources and Conservation, Visual and Performing Arts, Social Sciences, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, and Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Los Angeles Film School Film Colorado Mesa University Business/Commerce, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Psychology, and Biology/Biological Sciences Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design Art & Design University of Northern Colorado Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Social Sciences, and Communication and Media Studies Western State Colorado University Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies, Social Sciences, Psychology, and Visual and Performing Arts Colorado State University Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, and Social Sciences Quinnipiac University Health Professions and Related Programs, Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Psychology, and Social Sciences University of South...
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...Cognitive Psychology Definition ZabrynSamar Data 360 September 24, 2012 Terry Hancock Cognitive Psychology Definition What is cognitive psychology? Why is it important? Cognitive psychology is the branch of psychology that studies the mind and how a person perceives things (Willingham, 2007). It also deals with how a person acquires, utilizes, organizes, and retrieves information (Halpern, n.d.) and studies recollection, decision making, problem identification and solving, critical thinking, and logic. It is important as it aids in knowing how a person perceives things and allows one to make changes in one's behavior. It is interesting to know that cognitive psychology was not the first scientific approach to studying the mind, but that is came about in response to defects in other systems (Willingham, 2007). This paper will describe the milestones that were important in the development of cognitive psychology and.. Key Milestones in Cognitive Psychology Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary of embracing philosophy, psychology, linguistics, and artificial intelligence (Thagard, 2012). These are key milestones in the field that would be cognitive science. Its intellectual origins are in the mid 1950's when researchers in several fields began to develop theories of mind based on complex representations and computational procedures (Thagard, 2012). In the beginning, it was the Greek philosophers like Plato who created the foundation of cognitive psychology. Philosophy...
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...History of Psychology University of Phoenix Psy 310 Interest in psychology is as old as the society, because man has always wanted to know people who surround him, to discover what do they think, how do they feel, and their intentions. In spite of that, psychology as an independent science is relatively young – it is old approximately 100 years. When discussing the origin and roots of psychology, it might be noted that they come from philosophy and natural sciences. Philosophic roots of psychology are associated with the philosophic thought of ancient Greeks and the word "psychology" is of Greek origin. In the translation, psychology is "a science about a soul." Until the second half of the nineteenth century, psychology was a part of philosophy and was used for explanation of certain philosophical hypothesis. In the past, there were philosophers who had a major influence on the later development of psychology such as Rene Descartes (1596-1650), Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677) and John Locke (1632-1704). Rene Descartes is the most important representative of rationalism. His philosophical thoughts had a big influence on certain psychological branches, especially Gestalt psychology. According to Landrum, "Descartes suggested that whereas the mind is the source of ideas and thoughts (that he correctly located in the brain), the body is a machine-like structure to be studied and understood." Descartes acknowledged two substances: the soul and the body. On...
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...empiricism (science)- evolutionary theories Group 2: Behaviorism-Lab setup/ experiments- political- social economic aspects-1890- 1913 John B. Watson - neo- behaviorism Group 3: Cognitive Revolution- political - social -economic aspects-"mind back in psych"- 50s, 60s, 70s Group 4: Modern Psych; applied practice/science - how psych maintains to be a science - applying psych to life settings - do we still follow same premise psychology was founded on? Economics and Psychology: From Imperialistic to Inspired Economics, by Bruno S. Frey and Alois Stutzer http://www.bsfrey.ch/articles/362_01.pdf The Psyche as Behavior ARTURO, C. A. (2013). The Psyche as Behavior. Revista Colombiana De Psicología, 22(2), 377-387. http://remote.baruch.cuny.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=93598506&site=ehost-live Behaviorism Moore, J. J. (2011). BEHAVIORISM. Psychological Record, 61(3), 449-465. http://remote.baruch.cuny.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=65033133&site=ehost-live Topics: * Behaviorism * Lab setup/ experiments * Political – social - economic aspects * 1890- 1913 * John B. Watson * Neo- behaviorism Section 1: Brief Discussion on the history of behaviorism. What is behaviorism? How was it seen as a stepping stone for psychology as a whole/ as a science? Section 2: Discussion on the first lab setup for psychology: when, where...
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...There are many explanations for the origins of modern social psychology. It is therefore important to consider that social psychology cannot be traced back to one single source of origin. Hence, this is the reason why there are debates of what social psychology is. Gordon Allport described social psychology as the study an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors which are influenced by the actual, imagines, or implied presence of others. As seen from this definition there is a direct link between social science and the individual psychology. Social psychology cannot be seen as a linear phenomenon. This is because social psychology has been derived from a combination of influences. The development of social psychology can be discussed in two different ways. Firstly, social psychology is argued to be found upon political movements and social philosophies in the United Stated of America. Secondly, it can be argued that social psychology has developed in response to social and political needs. There have been debates regarding whether social psychology should be dealt as a natural science or not. The ideology of natural science is very important as it affects the way the social psychologist deals with the situations. For example, if there are specific scientific objectives then the study can be laboratory based and use experimental procedures in order to gain knowledge. Psychologists who use this positivistic method are classified as experimental social psychologists. On...
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...State University Northridge | Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Social Sciences, Psychology, Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, and Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Humboldt State University | Natural Resources and Conservation, Visual and Performing Arts, Social Sciences, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, and Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Los Angeles Film School | Film | Colorado Mesa University | Business/Commerce, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Psychology, and Biology/Biological Sciences | Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design | Art & Design | University of Northern Colorado | Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Social Sciences, and Communication and Media Studies | Western State Colorado University | Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies, Social Sciences, Psychology, and Visual and Performing Arts | Colorado State University | Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, and Social Sciences | Quinnipiac University | Health Professions and Related Programs, Business, Management, Marketing...
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